The Silent Struggle of Global Impact Moms: Why You Might Be Feeling Stuck

For mothers in international development, the struggle to balance their impact career and family often feels invisible. Here’s why.

As a mother working in the global impact sector, you’re no stranger to the demands of your career. Your work is centered around making a difference - whether through policy changes, advocacy, or boots-on-the-ground work that transforms communities. But as rewarding as this work is, it often comes at a personal cost - one that many mothers in this space feel but rarely discuss.

For many moms working in international development, philanthropy, advocacy or humanitarian work, the silent struggle manifests in feeling stuck. Stuck between the passion for the work you do and the desire to be fully present with your children. Stuck between societal expectations and your own evolving priorities. If this resonates with you, know that you're not alone.

?

Why Moms in International Development Feel This Tension

There’s a unique pressure that working mothers in the international development and non-profit sectors face. In an industry that’s built on creating change, the personal sacrifices required to keep up with the high demands of work and organizational mandates can often feel overwhelming. Impact workers are often held to a high standard and under immense pressure. The expectation to be available and committed at all times is compounded by the fact that many of these roles are mission-driven - leaving little room for you to step back without feeling like you're letting your team, cause, or beneficiaries down.

Once you add motherhood to the mix, you get an explosive mixture of feeling pulled in two opposing directions. Where motherhood requires us to turn inward and spend more time in a paradigm of nurturing care and leaning out, our high-pressure career requires us to fully lean in and drive tangible results.

For fear of being seen as less devoted or competent than non-mothers, and without any dedicated workplace support to turn to, moms often keep going as if nothing changed. And when they do speak up and voice concern over the long working hours and inflexibility of many international impact workplaces, they’re being passed up for projects, mission travel or promotions because “they have other priorities”.

The so-called ‘motherhood penalty’ isn’t just about the loss of career progression or missed opportunities – it’s also about the emotional toll of constantly feeling like you're falling short, either at home or at work. You might ask yourself:

• Am I doing enough for my children?
• Am I doing enough for my organization?
• What will my colleagues think if I prioritize family over work?
• Will I ever be able to "catch up" in my career if I slow down now?
• Who am I to ask for what seems like “favors”?

This constant juggling act often results in feeling stuck and invisible - unable to give 100% to either your family or your career, leading to burnout, guilt, and an overwhelming sense of stagnation.

?

Hitting the Maternal Wall: From Career Momentum to Career Stagnation

Many of the women I work with have spent years building successful careers in the global impact sector. They’ve climbed the ranks, secured meaningful roles they enjoy, and made real contributions. But then motherhood comes along, and suddenly, they hit what is often referred to as the 'maternal wall'.

The maternal wall is more than just a slowdown in career momentum - it’s a set of barriers and biases that leaves many women without the support they need to evolve as both mothers and professionals. After maternity leave, it’s not uncommon to return to a workplace that has changed. Colleagues may have moved on, projects have progressed without you, and now, the demands of balancing motherhood with the relentless pace of work seem insurmountable.

What’s worse is that this wall is often invisible to those around you. Managers and colleagues may assume that you’ll naturally "scale back" or that you’ll be content to take on less ambitious roles now that you’re a mother. To my knowledge, no international organization offers structured support to help mothers re-integrate and continue growing in their careers. Instead, mothers are left to navigate this new reality largely on their own.

This lack of support perpetuates the motherhood penalty. Mothers are seen as less dedicated, less available, and therefore, less deserving of promotions or leadership opportunities. The path forward becomes unclear, and many women are forced to choose between scaling back their career ambitions or sacrificing time with their children, both of which can feel deeply unsatisfying.

?

The Weight of the Care/Career Conundrum

As a mother, you’re expected to be nurturing, attentive, and fully available to your children. As a professional in the international development space, you’re expected to be relentlessly committed, and always ready to tackle the world’s most pressing challenges.

These dual expectations of the ‘care/career conundrum' (coined by Sophie Brock ) create a unique burden for mothers in this field. The weight of these expectations can be stifling and often lead to feelings of inadequacy.

What’s worse is that the “superwoman” narrative surrounding working mothers has led to a belief that if you can’t do it all, you’re somehow failing. But let me be clear: You are not failing. The system is failing you.

?

The Motherhood Penalty: An Invisible Barrier Holding You Back

The motherhood penalty isn’t just a term; it’s a reality. Studies have shown that mothers, particularly those who work in mission-driven fields like international development, face reduced opportunities for career advancement. The reasons? Biases around a mother's perceived dedication to her job, the assumption that family responsibilities make her less reliable, and, in some cases, the expectation that she will naturally scale back her career once she has children.

This penalty is particularly prevalent in high-demand sectors like global impact, where the expectation to prioritize work over personal life runs deep. The culture of constant availability makes it nearly impossible for working moms to ask for flexibility without facing judgment.

Even if you love your work, these cultural dynamics can lead you to feel stuck. You may worry about stepping back to focus on your family, fearing the long-term consequences for your career. Or you may feel a sense of guilt for even thinking about prioritizing your children over the important work you do.

?

Why You’re Not Alone—and Why This Struggle is Silent

Despite these challenges, many mothers in the international development space suffer in silence. This struggle isn’t something that’s openly discussed in most workplaces. After all, how can you admit that you’re overwhelmed, or worse, considering stepping back, when your work is supposed to be your sole purpose?

In fact, the mission-driven nature of this field often exacerbates the problem. You’re not just doing a job; you’re fulfilling a purpose. And that purpose can sometimes make it difficult to admit that you need help or that you're not thriving in the way you want to be. But here’s one thing I’ve learnt: You don’t have to choose between making an impact and being an engaged mother.

?

The Way Forward: Leveraging Your Motherhood Asset

While the system may be stacked against working mothers, there is hope. One of the most powerful steps you can take is to reframe how you see your role as both a mother and a professional. The idea that motherhood diminishes your value in the workplace is outdated and frankly, false.

Motherhood gives you a motherhood asset- a unique set of skills that can be leveraged to your advantage in both life and work. These include enhanced emotional intelligence, resilience, multitasking, and the ability to see the bigger picture while handling multiple priorities. Mothers bring fresh perspectives, empathy, and collaboration—skills that are critical to international development work. Seeing your family as a place that refuels you instead of siphoning your energy away from work, is another way to use motherhood in your favor. And of course, make use of your workplace’s existing policies and remind co-workers and bosses of their responsibility and part in creating an enabling and harmonious workplace for all.

It’s time to see motherhood as a normal part of mothers’ career paths, not a barrier to be avoided at all costs.

?

How Coaching and Consulting Can Help Mothers and Organizations Thrive

If you’re a mother in the global impact sector feeling stuck or invisible, know that help is available on both an individual and organizational level. Through mother-centered career coaching, I help working moms like you find clarity, confidence, and balance. Together, we can redefine what success looks like for you in this season of life and create a strategic career roadmap that considers your family planning and children’s developmental stages.

On a broader scale, I work with organizations to build family-friendly workplace policies that not only support working mothers but also improve retention and productivity. Organizations such as Parentaly , Josie or The Mom Project have long seen the value of supporting and retaining talented mothers in organizations. With my background in international HR, leadership development, and people analytics, I help smaller companies in the international impact sector create data-driven solutions that align corporate goals with the well-being of their caretaking staff. Whether it’s designing workplace policies, returnship programs, or coaching in support of women, mothers and parents, my aim is to foster workplaces where staff feel empowered in their careers and personal lives.

?

Let’s create a plan that works for you. My inbox is always open for DMs about individual coaching or corporate consulting or schedule your free strategy call today.